Valley of Fire State Park

Valley of Fire State Park, the oldest park in the state of Nevada, gets its name from its large, red sandstone formations. This park is one of the state's best kept secrets, and it is located less than one hour from the state's biggest attraction -- Las Vegas. When visiting here, make sure to bring a camera, as each vista is more extraordinary than the last.

History

People believe that the sandstone and sand dunes here were formed by the shifting of the earth's crust along with wind and water erosion. The stones are over 150 million years old! The earliest known inhabitants of this area were the Anasazi Pueblo people. They likely used this area for hunting, food gathering and religious ceremonies. This is evident from the numerous petroglyphs (rock engravings) located throughout the park.

Attractions

The total number of attractions here is truly amazing. If you are a nature lover, there are many types of plants to see, including various blooming flowers, many kinds of desert bushes and, of course, several cactus species. The wildlife here includes coyotes, fox, desert tortoise, many species of birds and several reptiles, such as lizards and snakes. With a park of 36,000 acres, there are numerous places to take in the breathtaking views and observe the wondrous petroglyphs left behind by the natives. Seven Sisters, Balanced Rock, White Domes and Rainbow Vista are just a few of the many stops available. The Cabins, another historic site, are a set of stone cabins built in the 1930s for visitors who came here when the park first opened. The scenery here has attracted Hollywood's attention, too. Many movies, including Transformers, Star Trek Generations, and Planet of the Apes, were filmed here.

Camping areas, a visitors center and numerous shaded picnic areas are available to further enhance your experience here. In closing, if you are looking for a place to camp, have a picnic or just take in the sights, then Valley of Fire State Park is the park for you.